Final answer:
The ethical system where the rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by the nature of the act itself, instead of its consequences, is known as deontological ethics. This approach is based on adherence to unchanging moral rules or duties.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the deontological ethical system, the rightness or wrongness of an act depends on the act itself and not on its consequences. Deontological theories are associated with Immanuel Kant and others who believe in moral duties and rules. Unlike consequentialist theories such as utilitarianism, which focus on the outcomes or consequences of actions, a deontologist would argue that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, irrespective of their consequences. This is because deontology is grounded in the idea that there are absolute moral norms and human rights that dictate our duties.
In contrast to both deontology and consequentialism, virtue ethics centers on character traits and dispositions. It holds that moral behavior stems from the cultivation of virtuous character traits through self-reflection and self-improvement. However, this is separate from the question at hand, which focuses on acts and their intrinsic moral value rather than on character or consequences.